To capture evidence of possible crimes, the Honolulu Police Department might use community volunteers to monitor its overt public surveillance camera system in Waikiki.
In an annual memorandum required under city law and transmitted earlier this month to the Honolulu City Council, HPD Chief Arthur “Joe” Logan noted that the police currently have 119 surveillance cameras installed within Waikiki. But operating those surveillance cameras means that ongoing issues, both technical and human, do arise.
“The cameras require continuous servicing and are scheduled to be serviced annually,” Logan’s Jan. 10 memo states. “The cameras were monitored by a Waikiki Business Improvement District Association’s Aloha Ambassador, but the position has been removed due to the reallocation of positions.”
“The HPD is currently looking for additional volunteers to monitor the cameras system,” the memo states. And Logan noted “the camera footage is accessible to officers and is retained as evidence if needed.” Although the memo states the need for volunteers, HPD Maj. James Slayter told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that finding the people needed to monitor surveillance footage is still under consideration.
“The position is currently open, and we are looking at different options for monitoring the cameras,” he said via email. Slayter, the department’s District 6 Waikiki commander, noted that there is no “deadline” to fill the positions at this time.
Meantime, he pointed to a city law — Ordinance 2-32.3 — which specifically grants authorization for certain overt monitoring of public activity from fixed locations, by members of the public. “To the extent practicable, the overt video monitoring of public activity in these areas shall be conducted by community volunteers,” the city law states.
